10 Ways to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

If you’re looking to add a personal touch to your Microsoft Word documents or enhance their visual appeal, changing the background color is a simple yet effective way to do so. In this guide, we’ll explore the steps to customize the background color in Microsoft Word, allowing you to infuse your documents with a touch of style or create distinct sections.

How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

Let us now explore the methods that will tell you how to change the background color in Word on one page.

Method 1: From Page Layout

The background color of the Word document can be virtually any color that you want, be it light or dark. If you are looking for how to change background color in Word on one page, then here are some easy steps that will guide you on your way.

Note: The following steps are performed in Word 2010.

1. Open the Word document you want to add color to.

Open the Word document | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

2. Click on Page Layout, as shown.

Click on page layout

3. Click on Page Color to show a board of different colors.

Click on page color

4. Choose a color from Theme Colors or Standard Colors.

Choose from theme or standard colors | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

5. If you want to add more colors, click on the More Colors option.

Click on more colors

6. Select desired color from the board that pops up and click OK.

Select color and click ok

7. If you want to change the color or remove it, click on No Color.

Click on no color

Also Read: How to Replace Color in GIMP

Method 2: Use Standard Color Theme

If you are struggling with ideas and have no idea of what background color you want for your document, you don’t need to worry because the standard set theme of colors on Word can help you in picking the best as per your document. To change background color in Microsoft Word is now extremely easy with the default colors. So, to set them as per your preference, follow the upcoming steps.

1. Open the Word document and click on Page Layout.

Click on page layout | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

2. Click on Colors from the top left corner of the page.

Click on colors

3. A menu of Built-In colors will open up.

4. Choose a theme of your choice to add to the document.

Choose a theme

Method 3: Create Custom Color Theme

To add a touch of customization to your document and bring some color & warmth to the file, the custom color theme from the spectrum is the best. If you are wondering how to change background color in Word, then you can follow the steps exactly how they are mentioned below and make your file colorful.

1. Click on Page Layout from the desired Word document.

Click on page layout

2. Click on the Colors tab from the top left corner of the page, as shown.

Click on colors | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

3. Click on Create New Theme Colors option from the Built-In menu, as depicted below.

Click on create new theme colors

4. From the Create New Theme Colors window, click on the drop-down menu for the desired color.

Click on arrow

5. Enter your custom Name and click Save.

Enter name and save

Also Read: How to Change Highlight Color in Adobe Acrobat Reader

Method 4: Highlight Text with Color

Along with changing the background color, Word also allows the users to highlight the text. Highlighting the text helps in bringing the limelight to the subject and makes it stand out from the rest. Hence, if you are writing something important in your document or adding a note, highlighting the text is going to be handy for you. You can emphasize the text using color with the following stated steps.

1. Open the desired Word document.

2. Click on the Home tab > Text Highlight Color icon.

Click on the Home tab - Text Highlight Color icon

3A. From the Color menu, select the desired color to highlight the text in your document.

Select color of your choice | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

3B. Click on No Color if you want to change or remove the highlighted color.

Click on no color

Method 5: Add Gradient Colors

If you want to add more than color to the background of your document, Word gives you other background options too. The gradient is one of the features provided by Word, which you can add to your file in the form of colors and shading styles. If you want to know how to change background color in Word on one page using the gradient, the below-mentioned steps are your clues.

1. In the Word document, click on Page Layout > Page Color.

click on Page Layout and open Page Color

2. Click on Fill Effects…, as shown.

Open fill effects

3. In the Gradient tab, select any one option of the following:

  • One color
  • Two colors
  • Preset

Select colors option | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

4. Select Color 1 and Color 2, if you have selected the Two colors option.

Select color 1 and color 2

5. Choose Shading styles and click OK.

Choose shading styles and click ok

Also Read: 27 Best Alternatives to Microsoft Word

Method 6: Create Textured Background

The textured background is another way to make your Word document appealing. Texture allows users to add more complex colors and shapes to enhance a file. To know how to change background color in Word in texture form, look at the step-by-step instructions mentioned below.

1. Click on Page Layout in the desired Word document.

2. Click the Page Color option, as shown below.

click on Page Layout and open Page Color | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

3. Click on Fill effects.

Open fill effects

4A. Click on the Texture tab and choose a preferred texture. Then, click OK.

Choose a texture and click ok

4B. If you want more options, click on Other Texture.

Click on other texture

5. Add the preferred picture of a suitable size to the document and click Insert. the desired picture will get added as the background in the target Word document.

Add picture and click insert | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

Method 7: Create Patterned Background

The pattern feature of Word is another way to add foreground and background color to the document. From dots and waves to a grid theme, a pattern background is all you need. The steps below will help you add this background to your document.

1. Open the desired Word document on your PC.

2. Click the Page Layout > Page Color options, as highlighted below.

click on Page Layout and open Page Color

3. Click on Fill Effects from the Page Color drop-down menu.

Open fill effects | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

4. Click on the Pattern tab and choose a suitable color for Foreground and Background, as shown.

Select foreground and background

5. Click OK to apply changes.

Click ok

Also Read: How to Insert a Line in Word

Method 8: Set Picture as Background

If you are looking for another way to know how to change background color in Word, you can do it by using the picture in the background feature in fill effects. You can add any picture to your document. The only thing you need to care about is the picture size, which needs to be compatible with the letter size of the document. Check out the steps mentioned below to know how you can add a picture to the file.

1. Click on Page Layout> Page Color in the Word document.

click on Page Layout and open Page Color | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

2. Open Fill Effects in Page Color.

Open fill effects

3. Click on the Picture tab > Select Picture to choose a suitable picture from your system.

Click on select picture | How to Change Background Color in Microsoft Word

4. Upload the desired picture and click OK.

Upload picture and click ok

What are the Benefits of Changing Background Colors in Word?

Adding background color to a Word document brings about a lot of change in it and adds detail to it. Other than that, there are other benefits too that explain how it can be helpful if you add some color to your documents. 

  • Adding background color the document more unique and enhanced if you are looking to make one for creative purposes.
  • It is also great for creating a flyer or a brochure for marketing purposes.
  • You can also add background color to a specific paragraph to emphasize the importance of the subject.
  • The feature of adding background color is also an asset for creative writing on the Word document.
  • You can change the background of your page on the document as per your wish. Changing the background color is available on all the versions of Microsoft Word.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can I have a different background color for each page in my Word document?

Ans. Yes, the background color can be changed for each page in a Word document. To do so, you would need to pick a different style or color from Page Color in Word. You can choose a standard color theme or make your custom theme for the file.

Q2. Can I choose a different background for each page in Word?

Ans. Yes, you can have a different background for each page in a Word document. In the page color option, you can choose to fill effects, which allows you to choose gradient, pattern, picture, or texture options to add to the Word file.

Q3. How can I change the color of a single page in Word?

Ans. If you want to add color to only a single page in your document, you can do so by adding a page-size rectangle shape and then filling the color of your choice in the shape on the page you want to add color to.

Q4. Can I change the background color on Word if I don’t want it anymore?

Ans. Yes, you can remove or change the color of the background page in a file. This can be done by opening the page color tab and then choosing the no color option to set everything back to normal.

Q5. Can I print the background color too?

Ans. Yes, you can print the color that you have set on the background of a document. To get the background color, you would need to use a color printer.

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We hope that this guide was helpful and you were able to know how to change background color in Word. Let us know which method of adding color to the background of your document was your favorite. If you have any queries or suggestions regarding the same, feel free to drop them in the comments section below.

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